Next up...

 The next birthday was my sweet boy, Jake!  He's 11 now, you know.  I have no idea where all that time went, but it sure went really, very, completely super fast!  A while ago I posted pictures of Jake from birth, for each year of his birthday (you can see it here).  I thought that I did it last year, but turns out it was in 2012!!!  How the heck did that happen?  I've lost time and he was still SO little then!  What the heck??  

Jake had decided to have a body boarding party this year, which was a fabulous, in-expensive party idea, but half the kids he invited had a soccer match on and the other half didn't have wetsuits, so we decided to can it and took the boys to the Spur on Friday night for supper instead.  To be honest, it was the most boring party I've ever thrown.  The kids disappeared to play and Marius and I sat on our own - at least we could have dinner and a glass of wine!  The kids had fun though and I think felt quite grown up going out for dinner.  

By the way... did you see how grown up Jake's getting?  His face has changed so much.  I really love getting to know him and he really is a sweet, kind-hearted boy.  Long may it last...

 There were 9 boys all together and they are all really nice boys - happy days...

 Jake's birthday was on Saturday morning.  He'd begged for me to get him a Lego set for his birthday, which I lied about and told him I'd ordered, but didn't.  I told him that it was late in shipping, so he wouldn't get it until after his birthday. I had big plans for Jake's gift this year!  

The boys were all up at 6:25.  I'd wrapped up a few gimmicky gifts for Jake, socks and underpants and the likes there of...

 Some sweeties... I don't think that Michael and Cameron could believe Jake's rotten luck...

 I did write him a card and told him how amazeballs I think he is.  I did also give Michael and Cameron a few small goodies too.  Yes, Michael is eating chocolate at 6:30...

 And then began the fun!  I'd put together a treasure hunt.  I was so freaking excited about Jake's gift, but just wanted to make it extra fun for him...

 There were 15 clues, including word games, secret codes and dares...

 The final clue was to de-scramble the letters on the backs of each clue to find the hiding spot of the gift.  Jake let Michael and Cameron help him with it, so it was great to have them all involved...

 Getting warmer...

 Got it!  Jake was thrilled to have solved the riddle, not realising that he still had another present to find...

 two presents...

 What can it be?  I think he thought he was getting more socks or undies...

 What???! A TABLET?  Hahaha - check out the blurry eyes...

 A total state of shock an surprise...

 Jake's hands were shaking so much, he couldn't get it out the box...

 Safety first - getting the cover on...

 Showing his friends his new, ultra-cool present!  It's so sweet how excited Michael & Cameron were for Jake.  The funny thing is that I've had this since March and it's been SO hard keeping it a secret from him.  Marius will vouch for how excited I was - I was literally counting down the hours!  Jake has been saving and saving for a tablet of his own.  Michael & Cameron have iPads for school, but they're at a private school, so have to have them.  They do spend a lot of weekend time playing games on their iPads and until now, Jake's had to wait his turn or watch...

 Another hit were the smoke bombs I gave the boys.  Here's Michael and Cameron "dropping bombs" in the driveway...

Classy, boys...

 Later in the day, our whole family came over for burgers for lunch.  Marius very kindly let me have the party at his house, which is way bigger and far nicer for entertaining than mine.  The weather turned out beautifully...

 Corky stuffing his face...

 Bi not that keen...

 and Jake piled high with a double burger (no, he didn't finish it)...

 The birthday candles were very special.  I kept them from Jake's first birthday, when 11 seemed like such a long time away.  One was from his family party and one from his actual party.  I have misplaced them since the party (hopefully still at Marius' house), but would like to use one for Jake's 21st.  That's the idea, anyway... just have to find them...

 Jake lighting his own candles this year...

 With all his cousins and friends, except Bi, who didn't want to be in the photo...

 Blowing his candles out carefully, so that he can still have one burning for one girlfriend.  That would be me right??

 After our burgers and cake, we headed down to the beach for a little walk with all the kids.  Here are my 3 beautiful nieces...

 My youngest and eldest nieces...

 Whoo-hoo - Jake and me...

 Jake and Abi - he's a lucky boy to have such gorgeous cousins, isn't he...

 Abi, Jake and Becky...

 

 Rylee was there too.  He likes the sand and kept grabbing handfuls to put on his daddy's shoes...

 Jake and Michael...

 The kids enjoying some last moments on the beach, as the mist rolls in and the weather changes...

Jake had a wonderful day.  I'd organised with everyone to get him things to go with his tablet.  He got a bluetooth keyboard and mouse; a wifi router (we have never had internet at home, believe it or not!), app store vouchers, iTunes vouchers - he was so spoiled and loved every moment!  This morning, he was getting ready for school and said again, "I can't believe you bought me a tablet".  Lucky little fish...

Love Sue XXX